Washington, D.C. — Today, President Barack Obama announced that Heather Zichal will be stepping down as deputy assistant to the president for energy and climate change. In response to a White House official stating that Dan Utech will replace Zichal, Carol M. Browner, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress and former director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change Policy, released the following statement:

The president has charted an ambitious plan to address climate change, and Dan Utech is a smart choice to take the reins as the administration works to implement the president’s plan. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Dan at the White House, and I know he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the job. Dan steps in for Heather Zichal, who has been a true climate change leader and leaves a record of accomplishment in advancing the president’s agenda on clean energy, the environment, and climate change.